Resilient braided rope seal

Abstract

A resilient braided rope seal for use in high temperature applications includes a center core of fibers, a resilient canted spring member supporting the core and at least one layer of braided sheath fibers tightly packed together overlying the spring member. The seal provides both improved load bearing and resiliency. Permanent set and hysteresis are greatly reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A scaling article comprising: a core having crush resistance properties in a load bearing direction and fluid flow resistance properties in a sealing direction generally perpendicular to the load bearing direction, wherein the core extends in a longitudinal direction generally perpendicular to both the load bearing direction and the sealing direction;   a spring member, wherein the spring member includes a plurality of coils, wherein each coil in the plurality of coils extends in surrounding relation of and in supporting connection with the core, and wherein in transverse cross section along the load bearing direction each coil includes a first coil section on a first side of the core and a second coil section at an opposed side of the core, and wherein a coil segment extends between the first and second sections of each coil whereby each coil includes two coil segments, and wherein each first coil section is disposed away from each immediately longitudinally adjacent first coil section, and wherein each coil segment is disposed away from and extends generally parallel to each immediately longitudinally adjacent coil segment, and wherein each of the two coil segments which comprise each coil is disposed at a substantial acute angle in the same angular direction relative to the load bearing direction, wherein the spring member is resiliently deformable in the load bearing direction; and   a generally impervious cover extending longitudinally and in generally surrounding overlying relation of the core and the spring member.   
     
     
       2. The article according to claim 1 wherein generally each coil of the spring member extends in cross section between one first section and an immediately longitudinally adjacent second first section, and wherein the second first section is disposed in a first longitudinal direction from the one first section, and wherein one second section is disposed in the spring member between the one first section and the second first section, and wherein the one second section is positioned in an opposed longitudinal direction relative to the one first section. 
     
     
       3. The article according to claim 1 wherein each coil of the spring member is in supporting connection with the core in each first coil section and at each second coil section. 
     
     
       4. The article according to claim 3 wherein generally each coil of the spring member includes a first inner surface, wherein the first inner surface extends in facing relation relative to the core between the first coil section and the second coil section, and wherein the first inner surface is in supporting connection with the core along substantially the entire length of the first inner surface. 
     
     
       5. The article according to claim 3 wherein generally each coil of the spring member includes a second inner surface, wherein the second inner surface extends in facing relation relative to the core between the second section and the first section of the coil, and wherein the second inner surface is in supporting connection with the core along substantially the entire length of the second inner surface. 
     
     
       6. The article according to claim 1 wherein generally each coil of the spring member includes an inner surface, wherein the inner surface extends in facing relation relative to the core and in substantially surrounding relation relative to the core, and wherein the inner surface is in supporting connection with the core substantially along the entire length of the inner surface. 
     
     
       7. The article according to claim 1 wherein the spring member includes a canted helical spring. 
     
     
       8. The article according to claim 1 wherein the core in a transverse cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is substantially elliptical in cross section. 
     
     
       9. The article according to claim 1 wherein the core is generally nondeformable relative to the spring member in the load bearing direction, wherein the core is sized relative to the surrounding coils of the spring member such that the core supports the spring to prevent compressive deformation of the spring in the load bearing direction substantially beyond a point of nonelastic deformation. 
     
     
       10. The article according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises at least one layer, wherein said layer comprises a plurality of fibers and wherein said layer extends in overlying and in surrounding relation of the spring member. 
     
     
       11. The article according to claim 10 wherein the at least one layer of fibers comprises an inner layer generally tightly braided around the spring member and an outer layer generally tightly braided in overlying relation around the inner layer. 
     
     
       12. The article according to claim 11 wherein each of the inner layer and the outer layer comprises a plurality of tightly packed sheath fibers. 
     
     
       13. The article according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of lightly packed sheath fibers include high temperature, oxidation resistant superalloys. 
     
     
       14. The article according to claim 13 wherein the high temperature, oxidation resistant superalloys include at least one of the group of Inconel X-750, MAR M 247, Waspalloy, AEREX 350, Rene '41, MA 956, Inconel 601, Inconel 617, Haynes 25, 188, 230; and 214. 
     
     
       15. The article according to claim 10 wherein each fiber of the plurality of fibers has a generally circular cross section. 
     
     
       16. The article according to claim 10 wherein each fiber of the plurality of fibers has a generally rectangular cross section. 
     
     
       17. The article according to claim 10 wherein the layer of fibers includes fibers comprised of alumina-silica ceramic. 
     
     
       18. The article according to claim 1 wherein the spring member is comprised of a high temperature, creep resistant superalloy. 
     
     
       19. The article according to claim 18 wherein the high temperature, creep resistant alloy includes at least one of the group of Inconel X-750, MAR M 247, Waspalloy, Rene '41, MA 956, Inconel 601, Haynes 25, 188, 230, and 214. 
     
     
       20. The article according to claim 1 wherein the core comprises a plurality of fibers extending in generally parallel, contiguous relation and in generally the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       21. The article according to claim 20 wherein the core fibers include alumina-silica ceramic. 
     
     
       22. The article according to claim 20 where the core fibers include at least one of a group of fibers including alumina-boria-silica ceramic, alumina ceramic, silicon carbide ceramic, silicon nitride ceramic, carbon, and hybrid ceramic. 
     
     
       23. The article according to claim 10 wherein the layer of fibers includes fibers comprised of at least one of a group of fibers including alumina-boria-silica ceramic, alumina ceramic, silicon carbide ceramic, silicon nitride ceramic, carbon, and hybrid ceramic. 
     
     
       24. The article according to claim 10 wherein the layer of fibers includes fibers comprised of at least one of a group of fibers including Inconel X-750, MAR M 247, MA956, MA754, Waspalloy, Iconel 617, Inconel 601, Haynes 25, Haynes 188, Haynes 230, and AEREX 350. 
     
     
       25. The article according to claim 1 wherein the spring member is comprised of alumina ceramic. 
     
     
       26. The article according to claim 1 wherein the spring member comprises at least one of a group of materials including alumina-boria-silica ceramic, alumina ceramic, silicon carbide ceramic, silicon nitride ceramic, carbon, and hybrid ceramic. 
     
     
       27. The article according to claim 1 wherein the spring member is comprised of at least one of a group of materials including MAR M 247, MA956, MA754, Inconel 601, Inconel 617, Inconel X-750, Haynes 25, Haynes 188, Haynes 214, Haynes 230, and AEREX 350. 
     
     
       28. The article according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one coil filler fiber wrapped in surrounding relation of the core and intermediate of the core and the cover, and wherein the filler fiber generally extends longitudinally intermediate and in generally parallel relation to the coils of the spring member. 
     
     
       29. The article according to claim 28 wherein the spring member extends in helically wound surrounding relation relative to the core and wherein the coil filler fiber is generally continuously wrapped and extends between the coils of the spring member. 
     
     
       30. The article according to claim 28 and further comprising in transverse cross section a plurality of longitudinally disposed coil filler fibers extending between at least one first pair of immediately longitudinally adjacent first sections and at least one second pair of immediately longitudinally adjacent second sections. 
     
     
       31. The article according to claim 30 wherein the plurality of filler fibers extending between the first and second pairs include in cross section, a first layer of filler fibers immediately adjacent to the core, and a second layer of filler fibers, the second layer being disposed in generally overlying relation of the first layer, wherein the cover extends in overlying relation of the second layer. 
     
     
       32. The article according to claim 28 wherein the filler fiber comprises at least one of superalloy and ceramic material. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising, a passage extending generally in the longitudinal direction in the core, whereby a cooling fluid is enabled to be passed through the passage. 
     
     
       34. The article according to claim 33 wherein the passage is porous, wherein fluid is enabled to pass from the passage into the core. 
     
     
       35. Apparatus comprising: a primary structure;   a support structure; and   the sealing article according to claim 1 extending between and biasingly engaging both the primary structure and the support structure.   
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the primary structure includes a turbine vane and the support structure includes a turbine vane shroud. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the primary structure includes a nozzle element and the support structure includes a wall bounding the nozzle, wherein the nozzle element is movable relative to the nozzle wall.